North Korea has awarded the title of Generalissimo to its late leader Kim Jong-il on the eve of what would have been his 70th birthday.

It is the country's highest title and gives him the same rank as his father and the country's founder, Kim Il-sung.

The announcement from the official news agency was full of praise for Mr Jong-il.

"Kim Jong-il strengthened the Korean People's Army founded and led by Generalissimo Kim Il-sung along the path of victory and glory, honourably defended the socialist country and the destiny of the nation and made immortal contribution to global peace and stability," it said.

The leader, who died on December 17 of a heart attack, also turned the North into a military power with his Songun (military-first) policy and "led the stand-off with imperialism and the US to victory, thus performing undying feats before the country and the revolution", it proclaimed.

The Korean-language version of the report praised Mr Jong-il's record in elevating the North into "a nuclear state" that could also produce and launch satellites - a reference to its controversial missile program.

The agency's English-language report did not mention the nuclear achievements.

North Korean and US officials will meet in Beijing next week for talks on reviving six-nation nuclear disarmament negotiations.

The announcement came a day after a statue of the former strongman was unveiled in Pyongyang, showing him on horseback alongside his father.

The statue is part of a series of attempts to burnish the reputation of Mr Jong-il as his own young son consolidates power.

Mr Jong-il's youngest son Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, has taken over the leadership in the communist nation's second dynastic succession.

The country's nominal head of state Kim Yong-Nam told the unveiling ceremony the statues had been set up thanks to Mr Jong-un's "boundlessly noble loyalty and meticulous guidance".

The North also promoted 23 senior military officers on the orders of Mr Jong-un, who has been declared supreme commander of the 1.2 million-strong military as well as national leader.

The North has declared Mr Jong-il's birth anniversary on February 16 "The Day of the Shining Star".